American Avocets at Bennett Beach -
photo by Sue Barth ©
Scoping July
Many of our WNY breeding species have fledged their young by now. Your feeders are probably being visited by young Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, woodpeckers, Baltimore Orioles, Mourning Doves, and more! The American Goldfinch, however, is just beginning!
Shorebirds are beginning to arrive as they slowly meander south. You may find them at mud flats or along the shores of lakes and ponds. Dunkirk Harbor is a great spot to spend time at if you are hoping to see Western Willets or American Avocets. These two species are rare but occur here annually and most reliably after a thunderstorm which can ground these birds. You have to arrive at the beach early to beat the dog walkers and runners!
Some common species that we could see would include: Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, and Solitary Sandpiper. On drier years, the marshes at Tifft Nature Preserve dry up and provide excellent mud flats which attract shorebirds to our generally shorebird-habitat-starved side of Lake Erie. The north end of Woodlawn Beach SP also provides a suitable stopover site for species which prefer sandy beaches. Check in the vicinity of the creek outlet into Lake Erie.
The Buffalo Ornithological Society, Inc. (BOS) was established in 1929 to promote the study of the birds of the Niagara Frontier Region. Annual grants are awarded by the BOS to fund member-sponsored avian research projects. We are proud of our extensive scientific research databases, our continuing involvement in environmental and conservation activities that impact birds, and our promotion of the enjoyment of ornithology.
The BOS coverage area includes Western New York and parts of nearby Ontario, Canada. This region is rich in bird life with over 380 species and 25 recognizable subspecies of birds recorded. Explore our site to learn more about where to report and find birds, both regional specialties and rare visitors.
The Buffalo Ornithological Society has something to offer to anyone passionate about birds: from the backyard feeder- watcher, the avid lister or the environmental activist, to the dedicated citizen scientist or the professional ornithologist. Society activities include regular programs, field trips, intensive long-term bird counts, checklist and date guide development, varied research activities, and involvement in local conservation efforts. We invite you to join in the activities of the society!
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Reflections on "What the BOS Means to . . . "
. . . Compiler, Bob DeLeon
I like the BOS… where else will you find others who like to hang out in garbage dumps and wastewater plants?
Upcoming Field Trips and Events
For a full list of our upcoming field trips, meetings, and events, visit our calendar page. You don't have to be a member to join our field trips or meetings! (Note that meetings run from September through June.)
Oct 07, 2026 (Wednesday)
Field Trip - Darien Lake SP with Matt Nusstein
Details: (click for more info)
Route 20 parking area for Darien Lakes SP
Meeting time is 10:00am in the Route 20 Parking Area (GPS coordinates: 42.900706, -78.422602).
Leader is Matthew Nusstein - (716) 446 3376; [email protected]
Matt will be leading our group in search of mid-autumn migrants at Darien Lake SP in Genesee County. In the fields and shrub edges at this location, we will be looking for species attracted to the many berry-producing shrubs along the paths. This trip will be a collaborative effort by Matt with NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and will last approximately 2 hours.
Philadelphia Vireo photographed by John Garrett at Darien Lakes SP on September 6, 2020.
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Oct 10, 2026 (Saturday)
BOS October Bird Count
Details: (click for more info)
Throughout the BOS Study Area
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
BOS members are encouraged to participate. Please help us add to the decades of records that the BOS has collected reflecting population dynamics of the area birdlife. You can be part of a field team or simply count birds at your backyard feeder. All observations are important! If you don't know what section you live in, please contact Marcie Jacklin who will put you into contact with the correct section compiler. Thank you so much!
Compiler: Marcie Jacklin ([email protected] or 905-871-2577)
More about the October Count: more info »
Photo of a Northern Shoveler from the Batavia WWTP on October 23, 2025 taken by Andrea Heine.
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Oct 14, 2026 (Wednesday)
Meeting - Birding the Adirondacks with Ryan Shostack
Details: (click for more info)
Buffalo Museum of Science
Meet at 7 pm in the Cummings Room at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
This meeting will be shared via Zoom. Ryan is a graduate of Canisius University and has worked at the Buffalo, Syracuse and Tulsa, OK Zoos. Waterfowl are Ryan’s favorite family of birds and we met at Forest Lawn Cemetery one spring taking in the newly arrived ducks! Ryan has also created a Facebook group called Birders for Inclusiveness to create awareness for members of the community with autism.
The Adirondack Park boasts an incredible variety of habitats from alpine meadow and krummholz, to lowland boreal bogs, Lake Champlain wetlands as well as some of New York’s remaining old growth deciduous forest. The Park hosts the only breeding populations of Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker and Canada Jay in New York State as well as one of the most diverse collections of breeding wood warbler species in the Lower 48! Tune if to hear Ryan discuss this unique park which is only a few hours’ drive from WNY.
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Oct 31, 2026 (Saturday)
Field Trip - Lake Ontario Plains with Willie D’anna
Details: (click for more info)
Top's Market in Wrights Corners, north of Lockport, NY
Saturday, October 31, 2026 - Lake Ontario Plain Field Trip for fall migrants.
Meet at 8 AM at Tops Market in Wright's Corners. This is on the east side of Route 78 at Route 104, north of Lockport. Leaders are Willie D’Anna and Joel Strong.
Leaders:
Willie D'Anna
P: 716-471-7595 or E: [email protected]
Joel Strong
P: 727-519-4043 or E: [email protected]
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See Our Full List of Events